The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has clarified how a long hospital stay affects someone's Personal Independence Payment (PIP) payments and entitlement. The benefit to help with the extra living costs of those who have a long-term condition or disability which makes it difficult for them to do certain everyday tasks or get around.
Going into hospital or a care home is one of the changes of circumstances that people who get PIP must immediately report to the DWP. Any of these changes must be reported straight away and failing to do so can result in having to pay back money (if they've been overpaid), fines or even court action.
The clarification came after Labour MP Beth Winter submitted a question to the DWP about whether its policy to suspend PIP payments when a claimant is hospitalised for more than 28 days may put off people seeking medical care. In response, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove, insisted there is "no evidence" that this is the case, reported the Daily Record.
